Dishwashing machines



July 21, 1964 A. w. HAAS DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ARTHUR W. HAAS WASHING SOLUTION July 21, 1964 A. w. HAAS 3,141,618

DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. ARTHUR W. HAAS m gpiz mtin z ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,141,618 DESHWAHWG MACHINES Arthur W. Haas, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Toledo Scale Corporation, Toledo, Uhio, a corporation of Ohio Filed June 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,439 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-248) This invention relates to dishwashing machines and more particularly to an improved Wash and rinse spray tube assembly for such machines including novel readily releaseable means for holdin the wash spray tubes in the assembly.

Heretofore, the wash spray tubes in many dishwashing machines have been locked in place in manifolds by means of springs which urge locking pins into engagements with holes in the spray tubes as shown in US. Patent No. 2,722,227 issued on November 1, 1955, to L. C. Lot and A. W. Haas. These spray tubes are not readily removable for cleaning because detergent corrosion prevents easy movement of such locking pins. The spray tubes in other dishwashing machines, as shown in US. Patent No. 1,507,909 issued on September 9, 1924, to P. H. Davis, were removably held in the manifolds by means of springs which were exposed to debris washed from the dishes and which obstructed axial movement of the spray tubes during removal and replacement of the tubes, the tubes having closed ends cooperating with such springs which prevented one from running a brush through the tubes for easy and thorough cleaning. None of such prior dishwashing machines had a wash and rinse spray tube assembly wherein the wash and rinse spray tubes were supported in a neat, low cost package from a wash manifold in an arrangement which facilitated quick and accurate assembly and ready disassemhly.

Accordingly, the objects of this invention are to improve wash and rinse spray tube assemblies, to make the spray tubes in dishwashing machines more readily removable and replaceable, to facilitate the accurate and easy assembly of such assemblies, to simplify the construction of such assemblies, to facilitate the cleaning of such spray tubes, and to shield resilient parts of the assemblies from dirt and debris.

One embodiment of this invention enabling the realization of these objects is a wash and rinse spray tube assembly which includes a wash manifold carrying a remotely spaced mounting channel and a rinse water pipe, the channel and the pipe being parallel to the manifold. The mounting channel functions as a support for the ends of rinse and wash spray tubes communicating with the rinse water pipe and the manifold, respectively. The ends of the rinse tubes at the rinse water pipe are open and are sleeved over short pipes extending from the rinse water pipe and the ends of the rinse tubes at the mounting channel are closed and flat and are attached to a fiat surface on such channel which serves to properly orient the rinse tubes radially. Both ends of each of the wash spray tubes are open, one end having a portion which includes a flat surface and which is received in a D-shaped hole in the manifold, the flat surface and the D-shape of the hole cooperating to properly orient the spray tube radially and preventing turning of the tube about its axis, and the other end being sleeved on a resiliently biased centerpin carried by the mounting channel. Axial movement of the wash tube in opposition to the resilient biasing of the centerpin permits ready removal of the tube. The mounting channel is so arranged that it shields the resilient biasing means from dirt and debris.

In accordance with the above, one feature of this invention resides in the ease with which the wash spray tubes are removed from and replaced in the assembly. The tubes are grasped and pulled axially in opposition 3,,ldlfii8 Patented July 21, 1964 "ice to the resilient biasing means. This permits ready removal of the tubes from the D-shaped manifold holes. Replacement of the tubes is just as simple.

Another feature resides in the automatic radial orientation of the wash tubes in the D-shaped manifold holes. This assures that the sprays will be emitted in accurately located directions without need for time consuming adjustments.

A further feature resides in the simplified construction of the overall assembly which facilitates the use of stainless materials.

Still another feature resides in the open construction of the wash tubes at both ends. This permits one to run a brush through the tubes for easy and thorough cleaning.

Another feature resides in the shielding of the resilient biasing means from dirt and debris. This makes the apparatus sanitary and increases the ease with which the wash tubes may be removed for cleaning.

A further feature resides in the superior simplicity of the overall assembly, the rinse and wash tubes being supported in a neat, low-cost package.

Still another feature resides in the automatic radial orientation of the rinse tubes on the mounting channel. This assures that the sprays will be emitted in accurately located directions without need for time consuming adjustments.

The above and other objects and features of this invention will be appreciated more fully from the following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwashing machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing the improved wash and rinse spray tube assembly;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view as seen from a position on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing the assembly tilted upwardly to facilitate the removal of scrap screens; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing one of the wash spray tubes and one of the rinse spray tubes shown in FIG. 2 disassembled from the assembly.

Referring to the drawings, a dishwashing machine embodying the invention includes a frame 10 having a washing and rinsing space enclosed by a vertically movable three-sided door 11. The door 11 is raised or lowered by an operator grasping a handle 12 and sliding the door up or down. The door has its two forward corners guided by posts as shown in US. Patent No. 2,722,227 issued on November 1, 1955, to L. C. Lot and A. W. Haas and its two rearward vertical edges guided in channels 13. A counterweight as disclosed in the above patent is operatively connected to the door 11 by means of a pulley system to facilitate raising and lowering the door.

The frame it encloses a tank containing washing solution which is sprayed onto dishes placed in the washing and rinsing space above the tank through slotted wash spray tubes 14. The washing solution from the tank returns to a pump 15 which forces the washing solution through the spray tubes. A plurality of the spray tubes 14. are provided at both the bottom and the top of the washing and rinsing space, only the lower set of spray tubes 14 being shown. Additional rinse spray tubes 16 are provided abov and below the washing and rinsing space to supply hot rinse liquid from a fresh water supply directly onto the dishes for rinsing and sterilizing the dishes, only the lower set of spray tubes 16 being shown. Control of the rinsing operation is accomplished by an electrically-operated solenoid valve 17. Operation of the washing and rinsing devices is effected by pushing a wash r 3 button 18 and a rinse button 19 mounted on a control box 26 located at the right side of the frame 1h.

The present invention consists in providing an improved wash and rinse spray tube assembly for the dishwashing machine, the assembly including novel readily releasable means for holding the tubes in the machine. An assembly includes a wash manifold 21, which corresponds to the wash manifold shown in the above US. Patent No. 2,722,227, that has an open end rotatably connected to a washing solution supply pipe, by means including a slot 22 in the wash manifold, in the same Way as the wash manifold shown in such patent is rotatably connected to its washing solution supply pipe. That is, the open end of the manifold 21 at the slot 22 is rotatably mounted on and communicates with a washing solution supply pipe in the same manner as the wash manifold in the above US. Patent No. 2,722,227, the manifold 21 being improved over the prior manifold by being formed from fiat stock by bending which facilitates the use of stainless material. The wash spray tubes 14 are attached to the wash manifold 21 as hereinafter described, are positioned transversely thereto, and communicate therewith, the washing solution supply pipe conveying washing solution from the pump 15 to the rotatably mounted end of the wash manifold 21 as indicated by one of the arrows in FIG. 2. Stationarily mounted stops 23 help to support the rotatably mounted assembly in its horizontal, operative position.

The end of the Wash manifold 21 remote from the slot 22 has a cylindrically shaped, interiorly threaded projection 24 (FIG. 4) rotatably connected to a rinse water supply pipe in the same manner as is the corresponding manifold disclosed in the above US. Patent No. 2,722,227, thev rinse water supply pipe conveying rinse liquid from the valve 17 to the rotatably mounted end of the wash manifold 21 as indicated by one of the arrows in FIG. 2. When the wash manifold 21 is tilted upwardly from its position shown in FIG. 2 about its horizontal axis of rotation into its position shown in FIG. 4, the interiorly threaded projection 24 is turned on the exteriorly threaded end of the rinse water supply pipe. A plate 25 (FIG. 2) within the wash manifold 21 prevents mixing of the washing solution with the rinse liquid, the washing solution filling the wash manifold 21 from its end at the slot 22 to the plate 25 and the rinse liquid filling the wash manifold 21 from its end at the projection 24 to the plate 25. A rinse liquid pipe 26 is carried by the wash manifold 21 underneath and parallel to the Wash manifold, the pipe 26 being attached at its closed end to a bracket 27 depending from the wash manifold 21 and communicating with the wash manifold 21 at 28 (FIG. 2) at a location to receive rinse liquid. The rinse spray tubes 16 are attached to the rinse liquid pipe 26 as hereinafter described, are positioned transversely thereto, and communicate therewith.

Angles 29 connect a mounting channel 30 to the wash manifold 21, the angles forming opposite sides of a rectangularly shaped rigid frame having its other sides formed by the mounting channel 30 and the wash manifold 21. The lower end 311. of the mounting channel 30 is bent out of the plane of a long leg 32 of the channel 3% and serves to carry closed ends of the rinse spray tubes 16 which are flattened as shown in FIG. 3. The other ends of the rinse spray tubes 16 are open and are sleeved over short pipes 33 (FIG. extending at right angles from the rinse liquid pipe 26. Nuts and bolts 34 hold the flattened rinse tube ends on the lower channel end 31, the tube-engaging surface of the channel end 31 serving to so automatically orient the rinse tubes radially that the rinse liquid sprays are emitted from the rinse nozzles 35 in accurately located directions up onto the dishes without the need for time consuming adjustments. In some cases, it is desirable to have the middle one of the three rinse spray tubes 16 spray vertically and to have the outer ones spray at angles from the vertical toward the dishes. The rinse spray tubes are loosely fitted on the short pipes 33, some leaking of water at these joints being insignificant, so that by removing the nuts and bolts 34 the rinse spray tubes 16 are readily removable from the assembly. It is seldom necessary to remove the rinse spray tubes 16 for cleaning because they emit only fresh, clean, hot rinse liquid.

The upper end of the long leg 32 of the mounting channel 33 also functions and a short leg 36 of such channel functions to carry novel readily releasable means for holding the wash spray tubes 14 in the assembly. The releasable means for each of the wash spray tubes 14 includes a centerpin 37 having a shoulder 38, an open end of the wash spray tube 14 being sleeved over the centerpin and abutting the shoulder 38 as shown in FIG. 3, the shoulder 38 serving to close such open end. Any washing solution leakage at the centerpin is insignificant. A stud 38a is fixed to the centerpin 37 and has a head 39 normally engaging the short channel leg 36 as shown in FTG. 3, the centerpin 37 so extending through an oversize hole it in the long channel leg 32 and the stud so extending through an oversize hole 41 in the short channel leg 36 that the centerpin and the stud are slidable in such holes. A spring 42 surrounding the stud between the centerpin 37 and the short channel leg 36 urges the centerpin 37 and, thus, the wash spray tube 14 to the right as viewed in FIG. 3.

The other ends of the wash spray tubes 14 also are open as shown in FIG. 5. The diameters of such ends are made smaller than the main bodies of the wash spray tubes 14 to form shoulders 43; the tube ends also are provided with flats 44 and are received in D-shaped holes 45 in the wash manifold 21. The urging of the springs 42 (FIG. 3) forces the tube shoulders 23 against the outer surface of the Wash manifold 21 holding the wash spray tubes 14 in the assembly. Any leakage at the shoulders 4-3 is insignificant. The flats 44 and the D-shape of the holes 45 cooperate to properly orient the wash spray tubes 14 radially and prevent rotation of the tubes about their axes. This automatically so orients the wash spray tubes radially that the washing solution is emitted from the slots in the tubes in accurately located directions up onto the dishes without the need for time consuming adjustments. In some cases it is desirable to have the two middle ones of the wash spray tubes 14 spray vertically and to have the outer ones spray at angles from the vertical toward the dishes.

One of the principal features of the dishwashing machine resides in the ease with which the wash spray tubes 14 can be removed from the assembly for cleaning and the ease with which they can be replaced. The operator merely grasps the spray tubes 14 and pulls them axially in opposition to the springs 42. This compresses the springs 42 and moves the stud heads 39 to the left as viewed in FIG. 3 out of contact with the short channel leg 36 to release the wash tubes 14 at their shoulders 43 from the manifold holes 45. Hence, just a quick flip releases a wash tube 14, the centerpin 37 then moving back toward its normal position shown in FIG. 3. To replace the wash tube 14,, its round end is sleeved over its centerpin 37, the tube is rotated until the flat 44- is aligned properly with the D-shape of its manifold hole 45, and the respective spring 42 is compressed until the tube end can be inserted in such manifold hole 45, the spring 42 after release holding the wash tube in place. The axial movement required to remove or replace a wash spray tube 14- ensures that only a minimum of space is needed by the operators hand and arm and minimizes the possibility of his bumping his hand on another part of the machine.

Another feature resides in the structure of the mounting channel which as shown in FIG. 3 has a horizontal portion 46 connecting its legs 32 and 36 which together with the legs serves as a garbage shield for the springs 42. This prevents dirt and debris washed from the dishes from reaching the springs 42 which otherwise might make them unsanitary and hard to work after a time.

Still another feature resides in providing each of the wash spray tubes 14 with two open ends. This permits the operator to run a brush through the tubes for easy and thorough cleaning.

A further feature resides in the superior simplicity of the overall assembly, the rinse and wash tubes being supported in a neat, low-cost package which is well suited for rotatable mounting. The simplified construction facilitates the use of stainless materials.

During the washing operation, refuse is cleaned from the dishes and is collected and retained in scrap screens or perforated trays 47 (FIG. 4) located below the wash and rinse spray tube assembly. The scrap screens 47 must be removed quite often to be emptied and cleaned. This is facilitated by rotating the assembly from its horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 to its upwardly tilted position shown in FIG. 4.

Various modifications and changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a dishwashing machine, in combination, a supply manifold, at least one spray tube having one end in communication with the manifold transversely thereof, said one end having a slip fit with an aperture in the manifold, stop means for limiting axial movement of the spray tube relative to the manifold, and releasable means acting on the opposite end of the tube for maintaining the tube in communication with the manifold, said releasable means comprising a mounting member, a centerpin slidably mounted on the member for movement on the axis of the tube and having a centering portion received in the tube and a shoulder in engagement with the end of the tube, and resilient means on the member for urging the centerpin into engagement with the tube and urging the tube into engagement with the manifold.

22. In a dishwashing machine according to claim 1 wherein the manifold is rotatably mounted and means are provided connecting the manifold to the mounting member forming with the manifold and the mounting member a rotatable frame.

3. In a dishwashing machine according to claim 1 wherein the supply manifold has two chambers, a supply pipe is carried by the manifold, stationary relative to the manifold and communicating with one of the manifold chambers, said spray tube communicates with the other manifold chamber, a second spray tube is provided having one end in communication with the supply pipe transversely of the manifold, and means are carried by the mounting member for fixing said opposite end of the second tube to the member to maintain the second tube in communication With the supply pipe.

4. In a dishwashing machine, in combination, a supply conduit, at least one spray tube having one end communicating in a slip fit with the conduit transversely thereof, stop means for limiting axial movement of the spray tube relative to the conduit, and releasable means acting on the opposite end of the tube for maintaining the tube in communication with the conduit, said releasable means comprising a mounting member, a pin slidably mounted on the member for movement on the axis of the tube and having means engageable with said opposite tube end for centering the tube and for closing said opposite tube end, and resilient means on the member for urging the pin into engagement with the tube and urging the tube into engagement with the conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 994,155 Harris June 6, 1911 2,031,816 Blakeslee Feb. 25, 1936 2,051,233 Webb Aug. 18, 1936 2,164,547 Smith July 4, 1939 2,346,278 Stewart et a1. Apr. 11, 1944 2,459,183 Roth Ian. 18, 1949 2,714,037 Singer et a1. July 26, 1955 2,722,227 Lot et al. Nov. 1, 1955 2,912,988 Kochendorfier Nov. 17, 1959 

4. IN A DISHWASHING MACHINE, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPLY CONDUIT, AT LEAST ONE SPRAY TUBE HAVING ONE END COMMUNICATING IN A SLIP FIT WITH THE CONDUIT TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, STOP MEANS FOR LIMITING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SPRAY TUBE RELATIVE TO THE CONDUIT, AND RELESABLE MEANS ACTING ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TUBE FOR MAINTAINING THE TUBE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONDUIT, SAID RELEASABLE MEANS COMPRISING A MOUNTING MEMBER, A PIN SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT ON THE AXIS OF THE TUBE AND HAVING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID OPPOSITE TUBE END FOR CENTERING THE TUBE AND FOR CLOSING SAID OPPOSITE TUBE END, AND RESILIENT MEANS ON THE MEMBER FOR URGING THE PIN INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TUBE AND URGING THE TUBE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CONDUIT. 